Bedell running for fire commissioner

Currently, I am one of three Fire Commissioners for San Juan Fire Protection District #2 (Orcas Island). I was appointed at the end of April to fill out the unexpired term of a retiring commissioner, and this November my name will be on the ballot for election to this position to complete the remaining two years of this vacated term. Accordingly, I inaugurated my campaign during the recent Fourth of July parade, and I would like to clarify this situation in order to avoid any possible misconceptions. The 1953 LaFrance fire truck upon which I was riding is privately owned, and the vehicle is not used by nor does it have any connection with Orcas Island Fire and Rescue.

Barbara G. Bedell

Fire Commissioner

San Juan Fire Protection District #2

Support for CAO

I went to a meeting and potluck last week hosted by the Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights. The panel was supposed to be a balanced dialogue discussing the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) impact on property owners. What it turned out to be was a feeling that property owners should be able to do anything they want on their property – not wanting any regulations or change from the old days when “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” was the slogan.

They also believe that protecting the environment under the CAO current updates would be a financial burden. Members of the panel were from the San Juan Builder’s Association, the San Juan Realtor’s Association, a private land-use attorney and planner, members of the Citizen’s Alliance for Common Sense, the editor and publisher of the Island Guardian and members of the Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights.

Who wasn’t there on the panel to add to the one-sided dialogue: The orcas, the eelgrass, the heron, the smelt, the sand lances, the trees, the water, the salmon and more. They couldn’t stand up for themselves to protect their lives. They weren’t invited. They weren’t considered, even though the orcas and salmon are endangered and full of toxins. All the wildlife is affected by what we humans do. We think we’re just building a house with a great view.

Things have changed here in the San Juans. We have grown to 16,000 residents and over 200,000 visitors flock to our islands annually. We have created a great impact on ourselves and that is why we have laws to govern how we can be responsible stewards of our islands. The CAO isn’t perfect, but at least it addresses the changes that are needed to protect our property, which includes our environment. We can’t separate the two.

Let’s work together to create something we can all be proud of.

Vivien Burnett

San Juan Island

Thanks from Children’s House

Because of the efforts of many islanders, the Mayoral Campaign raised more than $10,000 dollars for Children’s House. Our thanks to the sponsors of the candidates: Michelle and Doug Marshall of The Office Cupboard and sponsor of Mikey; Lori Wix of Aesthetica and sponsor of Dakota, our new Mayor; Windermere, sponsor of Eggitha (who should be Mayor!); Kathleen Smith of Smith and Speed Merchantile, sponsor of April; and finally, Lorna Vester of Driftwood Nursery, sponsor of the write-in candidate, Darwin. In addition, our thanks to the retailers of Eastsound and Orcas who were kind enough to support our campaign by allowing our ballot boxes into their businesses. And finally, thanks to Bev Leyman, Chairperson of the Campaign Committee, with Deb Jones, Keri Lago, and Erin O’dell, and to the staff, parents and children of Children’s House for all of their volunteer efforts.

On a personal note, I think it was the most fun fundraiser I’ve ever experienced. I hope that you felt the same.

Dale Heisinger

Orcas Island

Thank you from Pinardi family

The Pinardi Family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to this wonderful community we are so proud to be a part of. Kati Dawn was the recipient of several scholarships graciously awarded by so many of our island’s hard-working, volunteer-driven organizations. It’s often been said it takes an island to raise a child. We chose to raise our children on Orcas Island for this reason.

Thank you to all who believed in Kati Dawn’s passion enough to help her further her education and to all our island friends who helped us to raise our two girls.

The Pinardi Family

Thank you from the class of 2009

The Orcas Island High School Class of 2009, and their grateful parents, would like to thank all the amazing people who provided scholarships and who helped to make our graduation, senior dinner, baccalaureate, graduation slide show, decorating the gym, and grad night all moments we will cherish:

Cindy Elliott, Alex Castillo, American Legion (Voyle B. Martin Post 93), American Legion Auxiliary, Angie Boucher, Ani Sparks-Dempster, Annie Moss Moore, Art Lange, Barbara Kline, Becca Parish, Bob Phalan, Booster Club, Brad and Karen Harlow, Carper Foundation, Charly Robinson, Chris Dolan, Chris Senn, Cindy Morgan of The Nest, Country Corner, Darlene Talbot, Dave Mireau, Gemma Glasser, Deborah Sparks, Denise O’Toole, Eastsound Sporting Goods, Ecotopian, Eric Crowe, Family of Gitte Sofaer, Fidelis Circle, Glenda Crawford, Hilary Canty, Island Artisans, Island Market, Islanders Bank, K.T. Bjorgen, James, Janet Brownell, Jennifer Fralick, Jennifer Nusbaum, Jim and Kathy Walsh, John and Wanda Evans of Evans Nursery, Kathi Ciskowski, Kathy Collister, Key Bank, Key Club, Kiki Coe, Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island, Kyle Koepke, Larry Parker, Coach Dennis Dahl, Laura Snodgrass, Laura Tidwell, Leota Shaner, Libi Geddes, Lions Club of Orcas Island, Lori Breslauer, Madrona Club, Mandy Nigretto, Mark O’Neill of Finely Crafted Events, Patrick Bennett of Good Earth Works, Mark Padbury and the O.H.S. Woodworking class, Martha Inch, Martin Taylor Photography, Masonic Lodge, Michael Langworthy, Mimi Anderson, Molly Coxe, Moriah Armstrong, Morning Star Farm, O.H.S Faculty, O.H.S. Junior Class, Office Cupboard, Orcas Center, Orcas Education Association, Orcas Family Health Center, Orcas Firefighters Association, Orcas Island Board of Realtors, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Island Education Foundation, Orcas Island Hardware, Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, Orcas Island restaurant and markets, Orcas OddFellows, Orion Mahony, Owen Cheevers, Owl, Patricia Goffeney, Paul Evans, Philip and Maria Alex, Bob Eagan, Josephine Bangs, Craig Canine, Robin Freeman, Kurt Thorson, Barbara Larsen, Public Service Employees, Puget Sound Anglers Association, Radio Shack, Roses Bakery, Sadie Bailey, San Juan Builders Association, San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild, Scott Lancaster of Orcas Island Hardware, Sharon Wood, Stella Padbury, Steve Diepenbrock, Sunflower Cafe, The Exchange, The Funhouse and all the employees, The Kitchen, The Village Stop, Timba, Vicki Clancy, Whitney Hartzell, YMCA Camp Orkila, and 376-Wear.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The parents of Orcas High School Class of 2009 Graduates

CAO should be based on science

In regard to the recent focus by our community on the development of a Critical Areas Ordinance draft, I feel we may have missed an important aspect. There are two obvious sides to this discussion, but there is a third that needs to be considered: the best available science.

The citizens committee that formed to address local concerns no doubt worked hard and should be congratulated on their efforts. The shortfall with this committee was that there was limited scientific information available. It limited the committee’s ability to evaluate the application of these new larger buffers to our area. Requesting variances to be included in the draft without the science to back it up will result in the denial by the DOE and subsequent application of their parameters instead. If you send the request without the science, it will not be approved.

We have all seen the results of attempting to apply an urban template to our area (Washington State Growth Management Act). It doesn’t fit. If we are unsuccessful in coming up with an alternative, it will have to. The deadline for public comment is July 27, 2009.

There is the possibility we could look to other communities with similar demographics and landscapes on which to base our request for variances. Variances are and have been granted by the DOE based upon the best available science for that area. If we are going to petition for these variances, we need to do so before we’re stuck with a document that ties up more land than is scientifically reasonable. These stronger restrictions may unnecessarily escalate the cost of land to a level unreachable for many of us.

In some areas, the science may prove the new buffers to be necessary, but if they are not, it will require a great deal of effort and resources on the part of the private citizen to have any impacts evaluated. Either way, our opportunity to affect responsible alternatives is coming to a close.

I am a recent student and graduate of Environmental Conservation, but I am also a member of a community where my kids are growing up. My interests for conservation extend to the survival of our community as well.

Ted Tidrington

Eastsound